This Guy Sure Could Catch! Hit, too!
Before moving on to the catching portion of this article, though, I wanted to get into the philosophy of minor-league player readiness.
MOVE THE UBER-TALENTED UP THE CHAIN RAPIDLY!
The Mets have never moved guys up to the major league quickly, never force guys through the ranks when they have superior talent. Sure, they may be moved along a little faster than the other guys, but think back to Pete in 2018. In large part because of future free agent timing, Pete was not called up in 2018 like Jeff McNeil was - Pete should’ve been.
Dwight Gooden was called up rapidly, but he had “best of all time” stuff and it would have been absurd to delay his MLB debut, regardless of age.
The Mets in that regard did a remarkable thing already this year. They called the great Christian Scott, clearly much faster than they’ve called up similar prospects in my recent memory. They didn’t rush deGrom or Harvey, just to name two.
Scott’s done well in his 2 Mets outings. Good acceleration decision. (Well, Friday night’s 3rd MLB start was disappointing…)
Who else in the minors could warrant a rapid call up? I can think of two.
Brandon Sproat is one.
He made his minor-league debut in April. The Met started him out in High A. The Mets just promoted him to AA where, in his first start, he was superb, as he has been all year. He has major league stuff right now.
I would move him very rapidly through AA and AAA and get him up to the major leagues ASAP.
Of course, that assumes no significant hiccups along the way, but when you throw 99 or 100 miles an hour, your stuff is major league caliber. So, why not see him getting called up to the Mets on, say, August 1 of this year? Particularly with pitchers, so many of them get hurt, why waste any major league caliber innings in the minor leagues?
If he’s ready, get him up here.
The other is Nick Morabito.
He was drafted # 75 Overall coming out of high school in 2022.
When you are drafted # 75 coming out of high school, where there is more risk of failure, due to your having less of a track record, that says you are considered to be very highly talented.
Had he waited 2 years and gone to college, he might well be a top 10 pick in this draft.
That said, the Mets conservatively started Morabito out in St. Lucie this spring, and recently promoted him to High A Brooklyn.
What had he done this year through Wednesday? Everything, virtually.
In 30 games, .396/.520/.515, with 16 steals.
And 9 for 23 with 4 walks in his first several Brooklyn games, where most called-up hitters go splat, at least for a while.
Utterly sensational numbers. Power a bit constrained, to date, but what do you want, everything? I am sure he will develop at least modest power.
So, why not have him play for Brooklyn through June, AA in July, AAA in August, and call him up to the Mets in September? If he continues to out-perform, of course. Very likely the fastest player in the Mets organization with true MLB potential. Future All Star? One can dream.
A third possible fast-riser, further down, just might be Simon Juan.
At 16 in the DSL in 2022, the bonus baby struggled. At 17 in 2023 in the DSL, still at the age of a HS Junior or senior, the bonus baby struggled again.
At 18, though, still almost 6 years younger than Drew Gilbert to provide some perspective, Juan gets bumped stateside to the FCL.
In his first 7 FCL games this year, sensational…13 hits, a walk, 5 extra base hits, including 2 home runs, 9 RBIs, and .419/.438/.742.
Strikeouts, somewhat of an issue in 2022 and 2023, are not an issue now…just 3 Ks in 32 PAs. I know, it’s early.
If he is reasonably mature for his age, and shows continuing mastery of FCL pitching, I’d get him to the Florida State League St Lucie Mets by July, and have him ready for Brooklyn in April 2025. Have him ready for the Mets, perhaps, at some point in 2026. Lots of hurdles to clear between here and there, but if he excels, he accelerates.
Jeremy Rodriguez is 17. Going on stardom.
His 18th birthday is coming up on July 4. In 40 plate appearances in the FCL this year, 21 times on base (13 hits, 8 walks). 5 steals. 6’0” shortstop.
Future….superstar? Why not?
Jonah Tong could be another dandy.
Demolished and dominated the FSL in April, and is doing reasonably well for Brooklyn in May after his RAPID promotion. He could be another who accelerates to Queens, perhaps by some time in 2025, if he continues to soar and if management is so inclined to not restrain him.
Nolan McLean?
In his first full pro year he is pitching (and hitting) for Brooklyn, and this year, has 28.1 IP, 36 Ks, and a 1.07 WHIP. Outstanding, if you ask me.
I’ll throw in one more - Rhylan Thomas.
I do so with the caveat that his power remains sub-par, even after adding muscle this past off-season.
2023 was his first full year, and for a short time early last year, he was assigned to St Lucie.
Since he was promoted to Brooklyn in May 2023, here are his numbers at High A-and AA through Wednesday:
257 at bats, 87 hits, 37 walks and HBP, just 25 Ks.
That is a .339 Avg & .426 OBP.
And a K every 12 times up tells you that will be the least of our worries when he gets to Queens.
Just 16 doubles, 2 HRs and 30 RBIs over that stretch, though.
Need more from him there.
My take? Promote him AAA when Morabito heads to AA.
Then promote him to the Mets when Morabito heads to AAA.
If that means ahead of the injured Gilbert, so be it.
Last night:
RONALD HERNANDEZ:
Entered last night with 5 RBIs in 30 games. After 31 games, up to 12 RBIs. Do the math.
Trayce Thompson hit 3 tracers and now has 11 HRs.
Clifford now 1 for 14 with 8 Ks in AA. UH OH.
Back to elite performing prospects - summary:
If a prospect is an eagle, let him soar. As high and fast and far as possible.
Oh, and the Mets lost to the Marlins. 8-0. Well, Miami is a freight train, how can the Mets beat them? Come on, man.
Unwatchable. I didn’t watch. Sorry if you did…that had to be rough.
CATCHER DREARY DOLDRUMS:
On Monday, I noted that "In the battle for NYC's baseball hearts and minds, the Yankees of course are 27-15, 6.5 games ahead of the Mets.
"Ahead of the Mets" is a recurring annual saga, isn't it?
A lot of that has to do with the catcher position.
Through Monday, Yankee catcher Jose Trevino (making $2.7 million) in 75 at bats had fanned just 9 times, had 4 HRs, 14 RBIs, and was hitting .293.
The Mets?
The Nido and Narvaez duopoly combined for 16 for 85 (.188), 3 doubles, a HR, 5 RBIs, and 17 Ks. Terrible.
The Yanks’ Trevino had thrown out a normal and solid 9 of 24, while the expensive Narvaez has thrown out NONE out of 30 and Nido just 3 of 16.
Add in Alvarez's 0 for 10 and that Mets 2024 total was just 3 for 56. Youza!
Former Mets manager Yogi Berra in his career, as a comparison, threw out 49%.
Our guys? 4.9%. It’s just a decimal difference, brothers and lasses.
The Nido/Narvaez duo, plus James McCann, are costing the Mets $17.1 million this year. Not to mention the related $19 million in lux tax.
Holy moly. And...Good friggin' grief! $36 million for Wins Below Replacement.
Hayden Senger is in AAA. His bat might be a downgrade from Nido/Narvaez, but his defense and ability to throw out baserunners would be an upgrade.
Kevin Parada in AA? He has nailed 3 of 32 (9%). He is deadly to runners compared to Omar Narvaez, though. Of course, hitting just .183 with 42 Ks in 109 double A ABs through Wednesday renders him unready for prime time.
Especially in Metsville, we have learned that “to the swift go the spoils.”
The “swift” play on other teams. We get the spoiled.
Ex-Met Travis d’Arnaud? Remember, the guy whose catching defensively speaking was viscerally hated by many Mets fans? Well, he has gunned down 7 of 20 this season, and also hit 3 homers in a game this year, but who cares, right? Old news.
HELP!!
Pitchers need catchers that are familiar with their repertoire, know how to mix those pitches, are familiar with idiosyncrasies of batters and have a strong accurate arm to second
ReplyDeleteMets have none that can do all of this
Alvarez does most but he’s out
The two current ones fail here
You have a seasoned catcher in AAA that knows how to call a game, pitchers love, and has a cannon to second
Bring up Hayden Senger
Who cares what his BA is
High risk, high reward suggestion.
ReplyDeleteIf a prospect is called up to the majors and struggles, the loss in confidence can be fatal. If the prospect performs, the team gets a boost.
Pitchers are particularly susceptible, because if their "unhittable" stuff gets hit, they get very tentative, try to aim for spots, get behind in counts, and that begins the downward spiral.
I would not do it with anyone that hasn't gone through a spell of adversity and recovered stronger.
Important here
DeleteStruggling young starters' heads can be kept in place much easier with a catcher that knows how to steer then over the bumps
I'm one that believes once you have promoted your top pitching prospect that you need to stick with him for 20+ starts regardless of his ERA
Build his confidence and learn under fire
Hurah
since we're talking about prospects... traditionally, the highest bonus international signing players tend to have great results; that level of bonus is a game in which the Mets have never participated. well, as you may have read, according the Baseball America and SNY, the Metsies have 'locked up' 16 year old Elian Pena, a short stop / 3rd baseman from the Dominican Republic, for the January 15,2025 signing period, at a bonus of around $5 million! it's about double their previous record, and 80% of their signing pool. may he really have the 'line drive bat' the scouts say he has, and be rookie-of-the-year and MVP at 18... or 20 or 22. thank you Uncle Steve!
ReplyDeleteJon, good stuff.
ReplyDeleteMack, if Senger doesn’t hit, why should we expect him to, when Lindor, the mighty one, is hitting a buck ninety five?
A non hitting catcher is not a big deal right now
DeleteGood morning…. I’m here to be the descent, I guess.
ReplyDelete1. Why rush players? Clifford was moved up after 698 plate appearances in A ball. How long should he be there? He didn’t deserve the promotion and what happened to the great prospect that might have been better than Gilbert?
2. Scott was rushed to MLB, but for a reason. As a converted reliever that hasn’t thrown 100 innings in a season yet, did you want him wasting bullets in Syracuse? Scott probably will be shut down around August and Hamel or Vasil will take his place.
3. Tidwell did well last night too. Acuna still went 1-5. What’s up with this kid?
4. Cohen tipped his hand. Attendance is down and the guy must be frustrated. The one area that everyone thought was a slam dunk, the offense, is in the tank the whole year. I can’t blame Steve. I won’t blame David, and I think Carlos is doing his best to keep the boat from capsizing. It’s become a bad mix. McNeil refuses to adjust. I like the lineup change with Martinez to cleanup, and while I’d like to see Taylor and Bader both play more, I’d prefer Taylor. He seems to hurt the ball more. After coming back from injury last year, he hit .269 with a .545 slugging. I Ike him and Stewart about the same. Bader’s complaining to the press is something that I don’t think I’ll get over.
Just wonder if any of these prospects will be difference makers.
ReplyDeleteGus
ReplyDeleteYou being an outlier?
When the shoe fits
Because our catching is soooo bad Senger has to be better by default. How much worse can he be right? If he can catch and throw out a few runners thats a start. So it was welcome to the bigs kid last night and really an unwatchable game but I have SNY and the MLB package so I record the games and when they suck I can go through a game in like 10 minutes and boy did it suck so more points for the "Blow it up" group. It would also be nice in our new baseball world where runners are running wild on the basepaths to actually have a leadoff hitter who can steal a base or two right? How about Marte for now.
ReplyDeleteGary,
ReplyDeleteMarte should be the leadoff player for the chance to see some stolen bases. Not sure why that has not been done already.
Don't look now, but Senger is batting .273 in AAA. The guy is a good defensive catcher and has a great arm. It must be Narvaez' 7 million salary that keeps him around. He is atrocious
ReplyDeletegood morning, Gus:
ReplyDeleteread an article recently in which I think it was David Stern who was quoted, in which he said that they no longer use innings count to limit the number of increasd innings that a pitcher can do from one year to the next; instead, they use the same type of analysis they would use in the pitching lab, e.g.: angle of the arm, arm speed, etc., to see if a pitcher is at risk by having thrown too many pitches in a season and decide to shut a pitcher down.
Wow, thank you Jon. That’s pretty cool. I’m still stuck in the 2010’s, LOL!
ReplyDeleteGuys, I know Narvaez sucks and his numbers are putrid, but he made a great heads up play when Baty dropped that rundown lob and I think his baseball IQ deserves more rope. Also, Narvaez calls a good game and pays attention to hitter tendencies. We have had players like Jose Reyes where at the end of his rope he just didn’t care and it showed. There wasn’t any focus. Throwing out baserunners is on the pitchers too, so I let the guy hang around until Alvarez comes back. Severino, Quintana, Manaea, and players like Ottavino and Diaz will not want a kid halfway through the year that knows nothing about them and is breaking in to the game if they had a seasoned vet that was still active with them in the meetings and knows the league.
Hayden Senger is 27 years old, and I would guess that he has caught every Mets pitcher that has come up through the minors system. He knows the game well enough to adjust to the others. My comment about "High risk, High Reward" was not directed at him - it was about guys in the article like Sproat and Morabito.
ReplyDeleteI think Senger would be an interesting call-up and would be worth a shot. But you would have to get rid of Narvaez now. He would not respond well to being displaced by a guy who has spent over 5 years in the minors.
Narvaez has stuck around on the majors cuz he used to be able to hit. The past two seasons and thus far this season his hitting has been horrible, and he is not good behind the plate. Time for Senger to get his shot
ReplyDeleteYou have to pay Narvaez whether you keep him or DFA him. My guess is he would clear waivers and accept a AAA assignment
DeleteIf he doesn't or if he is picked up by some team do be it
You wind up with a better defensive catcher who calls a better game
It's fine to complain about the catching, but the big problems are elsewhere. Nido is batting 40 points higher than Lindor and Diaz can't get any one out.
ReplyDeleteIf Diaz isn’t Diaz anymore, the Mets are toast. A really bad game tonight. It sure wasn’t 2022.
ReplyDeleteLindor .190? Remember, he was 8 for 55 in spring training. Add the regular season and he is 42 for 234 (.178).
-Something is wrong with Lindor. What is it?